ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We report our experience with a large volume of complex oncologic resections and describe the framework necessary to develop a program with low morbidity and mortality in a community hospital. METHODS: From August 2010 to May 2014, 224 consecutive patients underwent abdominal oncological resection, at a community hospital by a single surgeon (R.N.B.). Cases included pancreatic, gastric, hepatobiliary, colorectal, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cytoreduction, splenic, and sarcoma resections. We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database and evaluated postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no 0, 30-, 60-, or 90-day mortality. The complication rate was 44%, including 5% grade I, 28% grade II, 9% grade III, and 1% grade IV complications. The median length of stay was 8 days. Mean follow-up for the entire group was 643 days. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that complex oncologic resections can be safely performed in the community setting if a well-organized, surgeon-led multidisciplinary team is assembled.
Subject(s)
Digestive System Neoplasms/surgery , Digestive System Surgical Procedures , Hospitals, Community , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Program Evaluation/methods , Digestive System Neoplasms/mortality , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Minnesota/epidemiology , Morbidity/trends , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Congenital abdominal wall defects are common anomalies which include gastroschisis, omphalocele and umbilical cord hernia. Recent reports indicate that gastroschisis is increasing in prevalence, whereas omphalocele has remained steady, suggesting that environmental factors may play a part in their pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to review animal teratogen studies resulting in abdominal wall defects to investigate their possible causes. Each report was examined not only for the teratogens causing the defects, but also to carefully identify the defect occurring and its correlation with the known clinical anomalies. We found many discrepancies between the nomenclature used by animal teratology investigators and that used by clinicians. We were able to confirm the induction of gastroschisis by 22 teratogens, omphalocele by 9 teratogens and umbilical cord hernia by 8. There is no doubt that environmental factors may be responsible, at least in part, for all three of the clinical abdominal wall defects. Future studies should take care to appreciate the differences between these anomalies and describe them in detail, so that accurate and meaningful conclusions can be obtained.